Ever since I could walk and grab, I have been collecting rocks, fossils, unique sticks, driftwood, seashells, feathers...

and a very funny thing happened when I became married, after I had my things moved into our apartment in an old house... we spent the next week looking through our personal boxes, and unpacking, etc... and to both our surprise: we found out that we had something else in common... collecting organic items... from the earth and sea...

needless to say, he had quite a unique collection of teeth (from animals), skins he'd find in the forest, a shark's jaw, a moose antler... and the list goes on...

actually, the first purchase we had together as a married couple was an antique cow skull with horns...

the home office we share, has some of these items, but not them all... they are scattered throughout our home... which I love... however... after reading one of my historical novels (my favorite) I have entertained the idea of a "Museum Room" within our home...

our children collect rocks, shells, sticks, fossils, and well... the collection we all have would be not only preserved nicely, but also on display for us to add to, see what we want to add, and become more of a learning experience for not only us, but their friends who enter our home as well... (the picture at right is the oldest a few years ago receiving a blue ribbon for his "backyard rocks" exhibit — he even found a moon rock here on the farm...)one could say that this is the result of not watching television... and if so, that's fine by me;)

We do have more free time in the cooler months... to tackle such a project... researching the history of the 'museum room' has been very ill indeed... for the only true 'museum room' I could find on the net was of British origin — and very inspirational:

Circa 1900 (click on picture to find out more)none of the items necessarily have to be animals you kill (I kind of like having foxes and pheasants living in harmony within my land) — but rather; found objects of both interest and memorials of the time spent at (for example) the beach, or canoe trip, or honeymoon in Maui (*sigh*)... even maps (which I adore and have always loved to grab anywhere I am)... this idea of a "Museum Room" will give us all a chance to participate in something together, and will be a good perspective on how maybe little darling saw her day... what caught the eldest's eye and beauty... or what made my heart swoon with delight... this idea is definitely in my Portfolio of Passions!

the first pictures is not of me, but rather, my youngest daughter... and the second photo is my oldest daughter in very early spring out on a jaunt with me in the woods...